For a change, have decided to support BCCI.My problems with BCCI started only in the 90s (during my blackout period).Suddenly money became everything in Indian cricket.An oldtimer like me took time to get used to this changed paradigm.Now I am used to it - and have accepted it as inevitable.And probably good for the game too, because it results in better earnings for players, better facilities, more viewership etc.I'm still not a BCCI fan - I think they're classic bullies, arm-twisting smaller Boards just cos they can.So I'd still support other teams over BCCI.

But my problems with England go back 44 years - to 1974.With that unforgettable thrashing India received.I was a young boy then - listening to the commentary of that "42 all out" scarred me for life.Since then I've always wanted England to lose - in every sport, not just cricket.To clarify, it is only about sports - never outside it.I don't have anything against England otherwise - I have English friends, we even have CF members from England who I obviously don't have anything against. And I love English TV channels, BBC and others.So it is ONLY a sports thing.

Anyway, will be supporting BCCI throughout this tour.Always have, in matches against England.

bolero wrote:Dilemma for Raja, who does he hate more - Indian cricket team or England cricket team ?

See answer above.

I'd like to add, I actually like today's England players.They are far more likeable than yesteryear players, I think.Maybe I've grown old now, and with age, mellowed a bit.Earlier I couldn't stand the thought of England winning anything.Now I'm even reconciled to the thought of their winning the football World Cup.

bolero wrote:Dilemma for Raja, who does he hate more - Indian cricket team or England cricket team ?

See answer above.

I'd like to add, I actually like today's England players.They are far more likeable than yesteryear players, I think.Maybe I've grown old now, and with age, mellowed a bit.Earlier I couldn't stand the thought of England winning anything.Now I'm even reconciled to the thought of their winning the football World Cup.

This is a warm summer in England - which plays right into the hands of BCCI.In the past too, they've done well when they've toured in July-Aug instead of May-June.I expect them to do well this time.Kohli will redeem himself.

All the attention on the football, while BCCI beat England comfortably in this game.Following up on Kuldeep's magnificent 5-fer which restricted England to 159 (looked like 200 at one stage!), KL Rahul scored 101*.Bhuvi had a poor game - ok, it's only a T20 but still...

Well played, England.Now the last T20 will not be a dead rubber game.I know international T20s don't have the same interest as IPL games for BCCI fans, but it would feel good at the end of the tour to say "We won all the series. The T20, the ODIs and the Test series".

I think that is very much on this time.Inspite of losing Bumrah, this is a very good BCCI squad.And this time of the year is perfect to score runs in England.Playing in May-June would've been tougher for run-scoring.

Cricbuzz commentary:Kohli, India captain: The comeback from the bowlers was outstanding. At one stage we thought they'd end up getting 225-230 which would've been tough. But the character they showed, that's something we're very proud of. Just hit our areas better I guess (in the second ten overs). We have the quality to bowl wicket-taking deliveries as well. Applied decent pressure on the batsmen and pulled the game back nicely. 25-30 runs in this format can be massive. Pandya is a really good all-round cricketer. He's confident with his skills with bat and ball. He's sure of what he wants to do. With the ball, the way he picked up those wickets after getting hit for boundaries and sixes. His all-round performance was standout today. Was difficult for the bowlers. Have to be honest. Pitch was really, really flat. We enjoyed ourselves as batsmen. England got 200-odd, we got there with few balls to spare. Don't like to look at hindsight and say we could've added another bowler. Guys came up with the goods. We're gonna continue and try different things. You saw the kind of energy and attitude we had on the field. Feels great to have a series win at the start of the tour.

If England want to win against BCCI, they need to prepare wickets that assist swing.That is England's strength.But that will not make for a very long match.BCCI could be shot out for under 150.Commercially unacceptable.

Don’t underestimate BCCI pace bowling. If pitch assist swing, it’s not just England but BCCI bowling also gain from it. duh. Gone are the days where they relieved heavily on 3 spin bowlers to win games. It seems you are still living in the last decade.

Oh, I'm not denying that BCCI's pace bowling has also improved tremendously, and is a force to reckon with.My point is this:If you were England captain and had to choose between- bowling to BCCI batsmen on a flat wicket- facing BCCI bowlers on a wicket assisting swingwhich would you pick?

I'd pick the latter any day.No disrespect to BCCI bowlers, but bowling to BCCI batsmen on a flat wicket is a total nightmare.Even guys like Pandya could tonk you around for a 100 off 50 balls.Sure England batsmen would struggle against Bhuvi & co but they're rather used to playing in conditions favouring swing.BCCI batsmen aren't.

England preparing batting wickets is good for commerce but not good for their own prospects.But then, commerce trumps all - so even if England lose the ODI series and the Test series, who cares?ECB would have made good money from this tour - and that's most important.

England will win the odd game - just to make it not look too one-sided.

I am very impressed by him.To be honest, I'd never heard of him till he made his Test debut against Australia.And what a debut it was!

What I like is that he's keeping the batsman guessing all the time - and attacking the stumps always.Same as Chahal, though they are very different sort of bowlers.In Test cricket, I'd always pick attacking, wicket-taking bowlers.Even if they go for a few, chances of their being match-winners is high.In limited-overs, there's a role for "containing" bowlers, although Kuldeep (and Chahal too) have done very well in this format too.

I'd like to see both these players in the Test series. Jadeja should almost certainly not play.Am iffy on Ashwin, given his excellent Test record.'Having said that, most of it is in India.Maybe give Ashwin one Test - if he's found ineffective, play the series with Kuldeep and Chahal.Depending on the wicket, might also play all three. All different types.Ashwin is a very "correct" batsman - and in English conditions, that's a very valuable trait.

I am very impressed by him.To be honest, I'd never heard of him till he made his Test debut against Australia.And what a debut it was!

What I like is that he's keeping the batsman guessing all the time - and attacking the stumps always.Same as Chahal, though they are very different sort of bowlers.In Test cricket, I'd always pick attacking, wicket-taking bowlers.Even if they go for a few, chances of their being match-winners is high.In limited-overs, there's a role for "containing" bowlers, although Kuldeep (and Chahal too) have done very well in this format too.

I'd like to see both these players in the Test series. Jadeja should almost certainly not play.Am iffy on Ashwin, given his excellent Test record.'Having said that, most of it is in India.Maybe give Ashwin one Test - if he's found ineffective, play the series with Kuldeep and Chahal.Depending on the wicket, might also play all three. All different types.Ashwin is a very "correct" batsman - and in English conditions, that's a very valuable trait.

Thanks Raja. He seems to be a match winning spinner and hopefully will win India many, many matches.

BCCI in trouble here.Not surprising.England have posted a decent score here.And there's the Lord's slope to contend with.Rohit continues to be rubbish, Dhawan has always been rubbish, Rahul was surprised by a good delivery.Kohli is the surprise disappointment today.

bolero wrote:This is something on which I am completely in agreement with Paddles i.e. Dhoni's strike rate.

He doesnt deserve his place in the team based on his poor strike rates and he is pushing his luck.

I've actually been of this opinion for years, but more so in regard into his world status, not the Indian team itself.

But Pant, Rahul and even Karthik give India options at present.

Karthik I am not as entirely enamoured with as as I was a year or two ago - he is seemingly slipping. I hope not. He is very entertaining when on song. As Raja began to like him, I started to like him less. His consistency is questionable today as he gets older. I hope this isn't the case, but I wonder. Been a few innings since he made big fast runs.

Pant deserves a try before the World Cup. And I would try Rahul if Pant fails.

Dhoni doesn't even have to be dropped to try Rahul.

"Your inclination to assume and contradict is typical of Narcissism which is nothing about being pretty like the Narcissus fable."